Monthly Awards

Athlete of the Month - May 2009
Ariel Oakley - Bishop Moore Catholic High School

It gives me great satisfaction to recommend Ariel Oakley of Bishop Moore Catholic High School for the Athlete of the Month. I am Ariel's high school water polo coach and have had the pleasure of working with this inspirational athlete for the past four years, both on and off the pool deck.

The academics at Bishop Moore Catholic HS are most challenging, and Ariel fulfilled all the requirements with the added challenge of honors courses, athletics and managing her health. Success in water polo requires phenomenal cardio vascular endurance, extensive playtime and continual practice of basic skills, none of which are inhibited by her type 1 diabetes. A typical week for Ariel included approximately 20 hours in the pool practicing on top of the countless hours completing academic coursework.

Ariel has committed her time and athletic abilities to many coaches and teams, gathering knowledge from each new experience. In addition to the Bishop Moore HS varsity water polo program, Ariel was a core competitor on the Bishop Moore Catholic HS varsity swim team. She tried out, and was one of the select few to play on the Southeast Zone team, practicing every other weekend. She attended numerous camps and played in elite international tournaments.

As a sophomore, Ariel was also invited to attend the Two-Meter Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. There she furthered her knowledge on the importance of training, nutrition and water polo.

Ariel has been more than the ideal athlete; she has been selected to serve as the 2009 BMCHS Girl's Water Polo team captain. In order to earn my deepest respect, she has demonstrated outstanding leadership, maintained a clear sense of focus and developed a true love for the sport of water polo. Best All-Around Athlete, Most Valuable Player and BMCHS Athletic Hall of Fame Athlete are just a few accolades Ariel has earned through her hard work and determination. Most importantly, Ariel desires to continue her education and water polo career at the University of Maryland. Go Terrapins!

Ariel is a diabetic. Ariel is an advocate. Ariel is an inspiration. Ariel constantly monitors glucose and insulin levels, utilizes the most up-to-date management strategies and makes necessary dietary adjustments, all with a smile on her face. She educates others about type 1 diabetes and its effect on student athletes. She empowers others, including her younger brother who is also a diabetic, through her strength and successes.

With Ariel's superior knowledge and contribution to athletics and diabetic research, she developed a strong sense of confidence with a charming attitude; therefore, I can always depend on her to be a role model to her younger or less experienced teammates and peers. More importantly, she thinks critically, reasons well and has all the instincts of a true athlete. It has been an honor to witness Ariel's development at Bishop Moore Catholic HS and it has been a joy to watch her grow as a student athlete. I cannot imagine a better recipient of this award.